Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense rehabilitates, present participle rehabilitating, past tense, past participle rehabilitated
1. verb
To rehabilitate someone who has been ill or in prison means to help them to live a normal life again. To rehabilitate someone who has a drug or alcohol problem means to help them stop using drugs or alcohol.
Considerable efforts have been made to rehabilitate patients who have suffered inthis way. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: reintegrate, retrain, restore to health, readapt More Synonyms of rehabilitate
rehabilitation (riːhəbɪlɪteɪʃən)uncountable noun
...the rehabilitation of young offenders. [+ of]
...a drug rehabilitation centre.
2. verb
If someone is rehabilitated, they begin to be considered acceptable again after a period during which they have been rejected or severely criticized.
[formal]
Ten years later, Dreyfus was rehabilitated. [beVERB-ed]
His candidacy has divided the party; most scorned him but some sought to rehabilitatehim. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: reinstate, restore, re-establish, reinstall More Synonyms of rehabilitate
rehabilitationuncountable noun
The party has taken an important step towards the rehabilitation of the disgracedMP.
3. verb
To rehabilitate a building or an area means to improve its condition so that it can be used again.
...a program for rehabilitating low-income housing. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: restore, develop, convert, renew More Synonyms of rehabilitate
rehabilitationuncountable noun
Money will be directed to the maintenance and rehabilitation of schools.
More Synonyms of rehabilitate
rehabilitate in British English
(ˌriːəˈbɪlɪˌteɪt)
verb(transitive)
1.
to help (a person who has acquired a disability or addiction or who has just been released from prison) to readapt to society or a new job, as by vocational guidance, retraining, or therapy
2.
to restore to a former position or rank
3.
to restore the good reputation of
Derived forms
rehabilitative (ˌrehaˈbilitative)
adjective
Word origin
C16: from Medieval Latin rehabilitāre to restore, from re- + Latin habilitās skill, ability
rehabilitate in American English
(ˌrihəˈbɪləˌteɪt; ˌ riəˈbɪləˌteɪt)
verb transitiveWord forms: ˌrehaˈbiliˌtated or ˌrehaˈbiliˌtating
1.
to restore to rank, privileges, or property which one has lost
2.
to restore the good name or reputation of; reinstate in good repute
3.
to put back in good condition; reestablish on a firm, sound basis
4.
a.
to bring or restore to a normal or optimal state of health, constructive activity, etc. by medical treatment and physical or psychological therapy
b.
to prepare (a disabled person, an inmate, etc.) for useful employment or successful integration into society by counseling, training, etc.
Derived forms
rehabilitation (ˌrehaˌbiliˈtation)
noun
rehabilitative (ˌrehaˈbiliˌtative)
adjective
Word origin
< ML rehabilitatus, pp. of rehabilitare, to restore: see re- & habilitate
Examples of 'rehabilitate' in a sentence
rehabilitate
`And I'd like," Ginny continued serenely, as if he had not spoken, `to rehabilitate the Tower.
Gaskin, Catherine THE AMBASSADOR'S WOMEN (2001)
You're going to have to decide if you want to punish us or rehabilitate us -- or even both.
Olivia Goldsmith INSIDERS (2001)
In other languages
rehabilitate
British English: rehabilitate VERB
To rehabilitate someone who has been ill or in prison means to help them to live a normal life again. To rehabilitate someone who has a drug or alcohol problem means to help them stop using drugs or alcohol.
Considerable efforts have been made to rehabilitate patients who have suffered in this way.
American English: rehabilitate
Brazilian Portuguese: reabilitar
Chinese: 使康复
European Spanish: rehabilitar
French: rééduquer
German: rehabilitieren
Italian: recuperare
Japanese: 社会復帰させる
Korean: 재활시키다
European Portuguese: reabilitar
Latin American Spanish: rehabilitar
1 (verb)
Definition
to help (a person) to readapt to society after illness or imprisonment
Considerable efforts have been made to rehabilitate patients.
Synonyms
reintegrate
retrain
restore to health
readapt
2 (verb)
Definition
to restore the good reputation of
Ten years later, Dreyfus was rehabilitated.
Synonyms
reinstate
He has agreed to reinstate five senior workers.
restore
Civil rights were restored in a matter of days.
re-establish
reinstall
forgive
She'll understand and forgive you.
bring back
pardon
Hundreds of political prisoners were pardoned and released.
exonerate
The official report exonerated the school of any blame.
absolve
The judicial inquiry absolved the soldiers.
exculpate
3 (verb)
a program for rehabilitating low-income housing
Synonyms
restore
They partly restored a local castle.
develop
convert
renew
the cost of renewing the buildings
adjust
rebuild
The castle was rebuilt by his great grandson in 1859.
upgrade
Medical facilities are being reorganized and upgraded.
make good
overhaul
The plumbing was overhauled a year ago.
revamp
It's a good time to revamp your kitchen.
mend
They took a long time to mend the roof.
refurbish
We have spent money on refurbishing the offices.
renovate
They spent thousands renovating the house.
reconstruct
The government must reconstruct the shattered economy.
reinstate
re-establish
make over
refit
During the war, navy ships were refitted here.
fix up (informal, mainly US, Canadian)
modernize
There is a pressing need to modernize our electoral system.
reconstitute
Slowly Jewish communities were reconstituted and life began anew.
redecorate
recondition
They sell used and reconditioned motorcycle parts.
reinvigorate
4 (verb)
Synonyms
redeem
He had realized the mistake he had made and wanted to redeem himself.
clear
save
She could have saved him from this final disaster.
reform
his plans to reform the country's economy
restore
Additional synonyms
in the sense of absolve
Definition
to declare to be free from blame or sin
The judicial inquiry absolved the soldiers.
Synonyms
excuse,
free,
clear,
release,
deliver,
loose,
forgive,
discharge,
liberate,
pardon,
exempt,
acquit,
vindicate,
remit,
let off,
set free,
exonerate,
exculpate,
shrive
in the sense of exculpate
Definition
to free from blame or guilt
Synonyms
absolve,
free,
clear,
release,
dismiss,
excuse,
justify,
discharge,
pardon,
acquit,
vindicate,
exonerate
in the sense of exonerate
Definition
to clear (someone) of blame or a criminal charge
The official report exonerated the school of any blame.
Synonyms
acquit,
clear,
excuse,
pardon,
justify,
discharge,
vindicate,
absolve,
exculpate
Synonyms of 'rehabilitate'
rehabilitate
Explore 'rehabilitate' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of forgive
Definition
to stop feeling anger and resentment towards (a person) or at (an action that has caused upset or harm)
She'll understand and forgive you.
Synonyms
excuse,
pardon,
bear no malice towards,
not hold something against,
understand,
acquit,
condone,
remit,
let off (informal),
turn a blind eye to,
exonerate,
absolve,
bury the hatchet,
let bygones be bygones,
turn a deaf ear to,
accept (someone's) apology
in the sense of mend
Definition
to repair something broken or not working
They took a long time to mend the roof.
Synonyms
repair,
fix,
restore,
renew,
patch up,
renovate,
refit,
retouch
in the sense of modernize
Definition
to make modern in style, methods, or equipment
There is a pressing need to modernize our electoral system.
Synonyms
update,
renew,
revamp,
remake,
renovate,
remodel,
rejuvenate,
make over,
face-lift,
bring up to date,
rebrand
in the sense of overhaul
Definition
to make repairs or adjustments to (a vehicle or machine)
The plumbing was overhauled a year ago.
Synonyms
check,
service,
maintain,
examine,
restore,
tune (up),
repair,
go over,
inspect,
fine tune,
do up (informal),
re-examine,
recondition
in the sense of pardon
Definition
to forgive or excuse (a person) for (an offence, mistake etc)
Hundreds of political prisoners were pardoned and released.
Synonyms
acquit,
free,
release,
liberate,
reprieve,
remit,
amnesty,
let off (informal),
exonerate,
absolve,
exculpate
in the sense of rebuild
Definition
to build (a building or town) again, after severe damage
The castle was rebuilt by his great grandson in 1859.
Synonyms
reconstruct,
restore,
revamp,
renovate,
remodel,
refashion
in the sense of recondition
Definition
to restore to good condition or working order
They sell used and reconditioned motorcycle parts.
Synonyms
restore,
repair,
renew,
overhaul,
revamp,
renovate,
remodel,
do up (informal),
fix up (informal, US, Canadian)
in the sense of reconstitute
Definition
to reorganize in a slightly different form
Slowly Jewish communities were reconstituted and life began anew.
Synonyms
reconstruct,
restore,
rebuild,
overhaul,
recreate,
regenerate,
reassemble
in the sense of reconstruct
Definition
to build again
The government must reconstruct the shattered economy.
Synonyms
rebuild,
reform,
restore,
recreate,
remake,
renovate,
remodel,
re-establish,
regenerate,
reorganize,
reassemble
in the sense of refit
Definition
to make (a ship) ready for use again by repairing or re-equipping
During the war, navy ships were refitted here.
Synonyms
repair,
fix,
restore,
renew,
mend,
renovate,
patch up,
put back together,
restore to working order
Additional synonyms
in the sense of reform
Definition
to improve (a law or institution) by correcting abuses
his plans to reform the country's economy
Synonyms
improve,
better,
correct,
restore,
repair,
rebuild,
amend,
reclaim,
mend,
renovate,
reconstruct,
remodel,
rectify,
rehabilitate,
regenerate,
reorganize,
reconstitute,
revolutionize,
ameliorate,
emend
in the sense of refurbish
Definition
to renovate and brighten up
We have spent money on refurbishing the offices.
Synonyms
renovate,
restore,
repair,
clean up,
overhaul,
revamp,
mend,
remodel,
do up (informal),
refit,
fix up (informal, US, Canadian),
spruce up,
pimp up,
pimp out,
re-equip,
set to rights
in the sense of renew
Definition
to restore to a new or fresh condition
the cost of renewing the buildings
Synonyms
restore,
repair,
transform,
rebuild,
overhaul,
mend,
refurbish,
renovate,
refit,
redevelop,
fix up (informal, US, Canadian),
modernize,
recondition
in the sense of renovate
Definition
to restore to good condition
They spent thousands renovating the house.
Synonyms
restore,
repair,
refurbish,
do up (informal),
reform,
renew,
overhaul,
revamp,
recreate,
remodel,
rehabilitate,
refit,
fix up (informal, US, Canadian),
modernize,
reconstitute,
recondition
in the sense of revamp
Definition
to patch up or renovate
It's a good time to revamp your kitchen.
Synonyms
renovate,
restore,
overhaul,
refurbish,
rehabilitate,
do up (informal),
patch up,
refit,
repair,
fix up (informal, US, Canadian),
recondition,
give a face-lift to
in the sense of save
Definition
to rescue or preserve (a person or thing) from danger or harm
She could have saved him from this final disaster.
Synonyms
rescue,
free,
release,
deliver,
recover,
get out,
liberate,
salvage,
redeem,
bail out,
come to someone's rescue,
set free,
save the life of,
extricate,
save someone's bacon (British, informal)
in the sense of upgrade
Definition
to raise in value, importance, or esteem
Medical facilities are being reorganized and upgraded.